Well-mannered • Calm • Discontent • Faithful • Judgemental

Phobic • Stern • Fair-minded • Balance-seeking

[ The miracle of life ]

The day of Nimhue's birth was not the brightest of days in their family. Her mother Keala had been a simple hippocampus agriculturist, her father Maleko a unicorn brewer. The two worked together well, Keala growing the herbs, flowers and spices Maleko used in his brews. As in sync as they were however, the couple had trouble procreating, Keala's belly not receptive of Maleko's seed. As they neared their forties, Keala had slowly given up hope of ever having  children of their own, turning attention towards adopting. Maleko was desperate however, wanting a son to further his family's line. And so he had prayed to each god, one by one for his wife to grow fertile and a child to take root. Cascade had not answered nor Kaia, even the magic of the mysterious god Argus had done them any good. And then a thought struck the troubled male. He had depleted all options. Well all except... But would he pray to such volatile gods? Yes, it turned out he would, if only to ask for a child.

It was a miracle. Age forty-one and by wonder Keala's belly swelled, Maleko's wish come through. The male was overjoyed, the pair giddy beyond compare. Keala admitted to never having stopped asking Cascade and as she smiled telling, Maleko had not the heart mentioning the means to which he had turned. It was soon clear that what grew in her stomach was far to grand to contain just one foal. Another miracle for they were not blessed with one but two at a time. That blessing brought it's troubles though, Keala's pregnancy soon becoming a heavy thing to bear. Before even her due date was reached, her water broke and she was rushed to the birthing pools.

[ The tragedy of death ]

It was a tragedy. The screams were horrible, further complications popping up as time went own. Maleko stood by his wife's side unable to do anything other than whisper encouraging words. Eventually two foals came to the world, one stronger than the other, but alive. Maleko could not revel in the wonder of new life however as his dear wife's one had slipped away.

A friend of Maleko was present for the whole ordeal, the fellow brewer visiting to deliver potions to the Cleric's at the pool. Seneca was his name and as he approached his sobbing friend, his eyes fell on the foals, both so small and fragile looking as the clerics tended to them. One was a hippocampus, fins hard to look past. What caught his eyes however was the smallest of the two, a unicorn foal that seemed to have trouble standing. His breath caught as their eyes met, those eyes so alike a sister he used to have. He knew Cascade had returned her to him.

Maleko was a mess. He blamed himself for his wife's death, having struck a deal with gods that could not be trusted. He could have been so stupid? He wanted to have a child with her, his beloved. Now alone, what meaning did it have? His family sent him his condolences, coming and going in the following days as well as checking in on the twins. All were worried by the dull look with which the stallion stared at his children, but all blamed it on his recent loss and allowed the male the space to grieve. Seneca visited on the second day, eager to see his baby sister again as well as coming to check in on his friend. He found him standing over the two foals, looking for all in the world like he was a dead men walking. Perhaps it was the concern his friends had showed earlier at one of the foals, perhaps it was just the timing, the stallion just catching the other when he was about to crack. Either as Maleko felt the older brewer approaching he laughed. A slow haunting laugh of unbelief. Not looking at the other male, he said: "Can you believe it? They're both girls, both girls." He laughed again, voice cracking. He could he have been so stupid? He got everything but what he asked for. Nimhue woke up, whimpering as she was disturbed by her father's unsettling behaviour. The sound made Seneca reach forward, gently shushing her and stroking her head gently until she became calm and dozed off again. Maleko grew quiet as he watched his friend's actions. "I can't do this," he said. "Sure you can, your are strong. You'll make a great dad." Maleko shook his head, looking his friend in the eyes, those eyes looking so lost, so sad. "I hate them you know? I wished they had died instead of her. I wished they had never been conceived at all. What is wrong with me? They're just children. How can I be a good father when I think things like that? I can't do this." A protective surge made Seneca take a step closer to the twins, suddenly not liking how their father stared at them even more. He shook his head, not knowing what to do either. "We'll find something," he promised. And for then he would stay, not wanting to leave the male alone with those foals that night.

[ The curse of a blessing ]

The third day arrived and Seneca pushed the other male to prepare and leave for the temple. On the way there, Seneca questioned about names. Maleko hadn't named them yet, not having been in the mind to do so. His wife had hoped either would have been a girl and she had wanted to name them Zephyra. He himself had let her have that while he thought up boy names. They settled to call the hippocampus one Zephyra as she shared her mother's species. Maleko came up empty for the other twin. He couldn't name them, not when harbouring such bad feelings towards the girl. Seneca who carried the child upon his back cracked, explaining how he believed she was his little sister now reborn. "What was her name?" "Nimh." "Well, let's make that her name." Seneca believed she deserved something longer as this was the second time she would carry the name. Nimhue.

The two reached the temple, the children presented to the divine. Shock and understanding dawned on the adults as Zephyra was reveiled to have been blessed by no other than Ignacio.

[ The decision of a father ]

Maleko was disgusted. Ignacio, blasted Ignacio. So he was the one who killed his wife. And as they walked back again, he decided he didn't want them, couldn't love them, not the way a child deserved.  He'd put them up for adoption, seek them a better home. But who would take a child blessed by Ignacio? Maybe if they were quiet, but news travelled fast. Maleko who didn't want his wife's name tarnished by whispers, confessed to the fool thing he'd done and soon got the bad eye of those around him. Seneca was torn, fearful of Zephyra's blessing, an omen for her to become a difficult child and then Nimhue who was clearly disabled, having suffered no doubt from it. Maleko didn't want them, but then who would? He did if not only for Nimhue already. He wanted to take care of her and would take care of them both. Maleko agreed, signed them over to his name as it spared him the trouble of seeking someone else. He knew his friend would take good care of them, better than he ever could provide. Soon after he left, moving to a smaller village at the other side of Aquore, looking for a fresh start where he was not known. And so he closed that chapter of his life behind him, never to see his children again.

[ The chance of new beginnings ]

Seneca was left to care for the pair, treating them as if they were his own. He had never had children of his own, his own sweetheart having chosen for another stallion and never having found another mare that would capture his heart. It was a such he had never had thought he'd have any children. The twins therefore were a change he had never foreseen. He juggled his way through caring for them as best as he could. Nimhue had the luck he was a caring individual and so she and her sister had a nice childhood. Seneca who believed Nimhue, who clearly could not be to blame for any past transgression considering the young age at which she had passed, had suffered from Alya's negative influence in the womb. The brewer who worked as a distributor of health brews and was specialized in potions to be used in baths and springs, started exercising the young girl in water under the watchful eye of a cleric. Nimhue was given leg braces and due to daily exercise, Nimhue's legs became more stable and stable until she was eventually able to walk on her own, be it less smoothly so as other horses around her. The daily exercise in water and explanations about Cascade's healing ways, make the filly become curious about the goddess. She grows fascinated, feeling how she can move more easily in the water. She soon takes to spending more time around water, feeling more at easy in it. Of her sister she becomes envious, jealous of the fins and tail she does not have. It is a small thing which would take root into the filly starting from a young age. Her body did not fit. It was as if she was supposed to have those fins also, instead finding them lacking. She was a hippocampus at heart, but trapped inside the body of a unicorn. And she hated every minute of it.

[ The struggle of being trapped ]

Time passed and Nimhue and Zephyra slowly grew into teenagers. Whereas Nimhue envied her sister's fins, Zephyra had grown to envy her sister as well. Nimhue had always been the good child in Seneca's eyes, the special one. Whereas Zephyra was kept and extra eye on, her blessing prohibited to be used. It caused strive between the two at times, unable to understand how the other could not be happy with what they had. Yet despite the different views, they also confided in one another. Nimhue knew full well how much difficulty her sister had with her curse and her sister in turn knew how unhappy she was with her own body. It was Zephyra who one night sat herself down next to a crying Nimhue, braiding the long mane of her unicorn tail to look like that of a fish. It was Zephyra that was there when Nimhue went and got her horns sanded down, leaving nothing more than a jewel-like protrusion on her forehead. It was Zephyra who tried to get her sister to get good care of herself, grounding her daily routines and prescribing it as Cascade's will so Nimhue would go through with it on her own. Balance was something that the mare started to strive for, health and self-improvement an never-ending goal in a quest for happiness. As she had reached the right age, Seneca had taken her as her own apprentice, thinking it was the best thing to do. She would be close to home and safe that way. Nimhue was never asked what she like to do and considering their guardian's good intentions dared not bring up another course. Besides she was well aware that even if he let her, she was unlikely to ever raise to the rank she wanted to. So instead she was stuck working at the Springs, Seneca teaching her all he knew. He even taught her to read, so she could study books with recipes he had developed over the years. He expected so much from her, entrusting her his legacy. She dared not complain. Her sister in the meantime was left an agriculturist, told to gather the ingredients they both needed. Nimhue knew he loved her sister all the same, but she got the impression Seneca did not trust her the way he did her. Sometimes she wished he had picked Zephyra as his successor instead of her. She worked diligently despite her misgivings, working off task efficiently so she might spent the rest of her time doing what she wanted. Her fascination with Cascade never left her, having taken to drawing art with her as divine muse. Often she could be found at Inaria's temple, revelling in Cascade's presence there or soaking in bodies of water, enjoying the feel of calm and belonging it gave her. Out of her fascination with Cascade sprouted her fascination with lore, she read and listened, to the stories of Cascade, Talorian recounts of the god's war, the history her herd which Cascade laid at the roots of. She looked up to the divine who was so close to the Goddess and envious of those who worked at her temple, wanting the same for herself. And as the emperor appeared she would stare in adoration for there walked a child of Cascade themselves. All the while she prayed in silence, for a miracle, for a wonder, for a way to be free.

[ The beginning of the end ]

Nimhue had always attended festivities religiously so the Solstice celebration the winter of 1700 was no exception. She did not bat an eye at the fact a child was chosen. As always she envied the sacrifice, wishing the opportunity for herself. What she felt was however of no influence of the happenings that followed next. Many were outraged and to Nimhue's shock chaos ensued, the Solstices being questioned, called murder. She escaped towards her home alongside her family, keeping low for the weeks that followed. (More TBA) . The dissenters were put on trial and for the first time in history sentenced to death. Once again the herd calmed down, Nimhue relieved that the piece was restored. As if Cascade wanted to show a sign the youngest daughter of the emperor came to the world, her appearance so similar as the foal that died months before. Nimhue was convinced that whoever had doubted now couldn't deny that the Wave mother returned the sacrifices to them, alone now with glorious fins. Torrine's inhabitants were released and a new solstice approached. Nimhue stood once again amongst the crowd, eager to see who had volunteered, both jealous and proud of this pegasus who was so trusting of their goddess. His speech brought tears to her eyes, hearth warmed by his words. He spoke truth and her heart fluttered as he took his final step of off the leap. Looking so at peace, she wanted that. She had little time to be left longing however as soon there was chaos once more. Zephyra screamed at her to run as terrorists fell from the sky, bombs raining down around them. Seneca was there, pushing and dragging his ward along as they moved quicker than her unstable legs could carry her. Zephyra was just behind her as they fled, heading for the only way out, the wilds. Everything went too fast. Her senses became overwhelmed, blood, smoke and screams everywhere. And then there were two in front of them, blocking the path. They wouldn't make it out. It was imposs- But then Zephyra charged forwards, racing towards the two. Run she called to them. Run. And then she barrelled head first into them. Seneca helped her forwards and away, the both of them as by miracle making it towards the wilds. Another horse approached them, ushering them towards a safety, a temple ancient and once lost. Cascade herself was aiding them in Nimhue's eyes. Seneca however turned back. Nimhue begged him to stay, but he told her she would be alright if she was had faith. He promised he would be back with her sister And so Nimhue was left alone, waiting at the temple, praying once more. Seneca did not return, but she tried to rope her fellow refugees in keeping faith.